NAEP parents’ brochure, testing dates available

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” has set testing dates for the 2012-13 school year. In Maine, a sample of 2,500 to 3,000 randomly selected students in fourth and eighth grades will participate in mathematics or reading assessments between January 29 and March 9, 2013. NAEP has recently released a new parents’ brochure (PDF) to help families better understand the test. Participating districts may wish to share this brochure with their students’ families.

The results of these assessments will show what students in Maine are able to do academically. A handful of high schools in Maine will also participate, contributing to the national results for grade 12. During the test, students will take two 25-minute blocks of questions in mathematics or reading and answer survey questions about their in-school learning.

Schools will notify parents if their child has been selected to participate. This test requires no preparation, and results are anonymous.

NAEP is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what students know and can do in core subjects. Teachers, principals, parents, policymakers and researchers have been using NAEP results to assess progress and develop ways to improve education since 1969.